Traveler Health & Safety in Costa Rica

Travel in Costa Rica is generally very safe but there are a number of things that are probably different than your home country. Taking a few minutes to learn about rip-currents or even altitude sickness could make the difference between a health happy trip and a miserable or even disastrous one,

I was planning a Costa Rica vacation for my extended family (3 years to 73 years old, none pregnant) in 2016 and wanted to know what risk the Zika virus posed. My PhD in Biochemistry doesn't usually contribute directly to my current job as a travel writer, but in this case it provided me with the … [Read more...]

Zika is the latest tropical mosquito borne virus to appear in America. While more closely related to West Nile virus the symptoms are like a mild case of dengue or chikungunya - usually a slight fever, headaches and sometime red eyes or mild joint pain. The disease is spread by day flying … [Read more...]

Some basic planning and precautions can help keep you healthy and happy while traveling.
Where to Get Care
Emergencies Dial 911 toll free, and no coin required at a pay phone for emergency assistance. The Red Cross Rescue unit may be reached directly at 128 throughout the country (2221-5818 in San … [Read more...]

What every tourist wants to hear is Costa Rica has the lowest crime rate of any Central American country, but it would be imprudent not to point out that this a dubious distinction at best.
Each time I update this page I struggle to figure out how to get people to take crime seriously without … [Read more...]

It’s tough to think about things like accidents, illness, disasters and crime in paradise, but a little awareness can go a long ways towards making your visit safe.
Read this, heed this and get out there and have fun.
In general Costa Rica is a very safe place, but as a traveler it's important … [Read more...]

Earthquakes
Earthquakes are quite common in Costa Rica with small ones occurring daily and tremors strong enough to feel a few times a year. Major quakes strike about once a decade but no tourist has ever been killed or seriously injured by an earthquake in Costa Rica.
The deadliest earthquake … [Read more...]

It spreads like Dengue and it feels like Dengue but it's a newly introduced mosquito borne viral disease from Africa called Chikungunya. The name is an African word with the ominous meaning "contorted with pain"
The virus is spread when an infected individual travels to a previously unaffected … [Read more...]

A number of popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica are at high enough elevations that Acute Mountain Sickness and Altitude Sickness are a concern. Some are even high enough that potentially fatal High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and High Altitude Cerebral Edema are possible.
There’s no … [Read more...]

Internet Travel Scams
If you’re shopping for travel on the internet you should check the company’s ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), ICT, and Canatur before sending any money. Nearly all of the travel service companies, tour companies, hotels and lodges are honest and legitimate but … [Read more...]

Violent crime involving tourists is rare in Costa Rica but it's a serious and rapidly growing problem for residents. Since 2015 the murder rate has significantly exceeded the World Health Organization homicide epidemic threshold of 10 per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2016 the U.S. Department of State … [Read more...]

Corruption is a Latin American stereotype and Costa Rican headlines continuously announce the latest official caught taking bribes for anything from automotive safety inspections to construction contracts. Corruption impacts residents much more than tourists, but visitors may experience it in a few … [Read more...]

Because of the nature of transportation and the use of hostages to leverage the U.S. and European governments, international terrorism has become part of travel. Fortunately Costa Rica is not a prime target.
There is almost no connection with the hatred in the Middle East and Islamic extremism, … [Read more...]

Big scams involving real estate, investments, contract bribery, and banking are rampant in Costa Rica, but do not typically affect tourists.
However if you’re thinking about moving there know that the U.S. department of State rated Costa Rica as one of the worst places in the world for protecting … [Read more...]

Tell the Police
If you’re the victim of a crime in Costa Rica you should report it to the local police. You’ll need the report for insurance, credit card coverage (VISA signature will replace anything stolen in the first 90 days after purchase), or at least so you can claim the theft loss deduction … [Read more...]

Not so Much
If you’re a criminal and considering relocation, Costa Rica is a very attractive destination. Residency laws are favorable, the standard of living is high and it’s unlikely you’ll be caught, less likely you’ll be prosecuted and almost impossible to be convicted.
The rights of the … [Read more...]

The Dark Side of Pura Vida
Costa Rica works very hard to prevent crimes against tourists and for the most part does a very good job. Unfortunately the same cannot be said when it comes to protecting her own population.
There are many reasons Costa Ricans are tens if not hundreds of times more … [Read more...]